Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Episode of care as episodic-based revenue, days		60
Percentage of total reimbursement of outlier payment		10.00%
Low utilization payment adjustment number of visits		5
First threshold of therapy services required		6
Second threshold of services required		14
Third threshold of therapy services required		20
CMS face to face requirement prior to start of care time frame		90
CMS face to face requirement after start of care time frame		30
CMS therapy assessment requirement interval minimum		30
CMS therapy assessment requirement visits threshold one		13
CMS therapy assessment requirement visits threshold two		19
Episodes of progress that begin during reporting period, days		60
Hospice Medicare revenue rate accounted for routine care		99.00%	99.00%	98.00%
CMS hospice face-to-face requirement prior to third benefit period		30
Days in hospice recertification third benefit period		180
Portion of accounts receivable derived from Medicare		73.00%	76.00%
Historical collection rate from Medicare		99.00%
Revenue adjustment to Medicare revenue		$ 11,800,000	$ 6,500,000	$ 8,600,000
Minimum days for accounts receivable outstanding to be fully reserved		360
Rate of request for anticipated payment submitted for the initial episode of care		60.00%
Rate of request for anticipated payment submitted for subsequent episodes of care		50.00%
Maximum days to submit final bill from the start of episode		120
Maximum days to submit final bill from the date the request for anticipated payment was paid		60
Tax benefit related to estimated goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge	139,500,000	141,500,000
Estimated goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge	434,600,000	579,955,000
Statutory rate		(35.00%)	35.00%	35.00%
One-time favorable impact on income tax provision and the net loss due to tax planning		1,900,000
Percentage of patient receivables outstanding		10.00%
Advertising expense		4,700,000	4,900,000	4,900,000
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs		1,576,000	1,576,000	1,576,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs		2,200,000	3,800,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs, weighted-average amortization period, years		1.6
Net deferred tax asset		56,900,000
Net deferred tax liability			66,600,000
Share-based compensation		8,292,000	10,634,000	7,848,000
Share-based compensation, tax benefit recognized		1,800,000	4,100,000	3,000,000
Depreciation expense		34,400,000	26,200,000	23,800,000
Cap Year 2010 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated amounts due back to Medicare			1,900,000
Cap Year 2011 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated amounts due back to Medicare		$ 3,100,000
Non-Compete Agreements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets estimated useful lives, in years		3
Franchise Rights And Acquired Names [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets estimated useful lives, in years		5